The Suspense Is Killing Me!
Christ is risen! The great American author Lewis B. Smedes once said "Seeing reality for what it is is what we call discernment. The work of discernment is very hard." And the Orthodox Fathers would agree. In fact, it is the gift of discernment that we are constantly called to...
Humility And Repentance
Christ is Risen! This thought haunts me. All I've preached, all I've taught, and all I've said, will one day be used as a comparison with the way I've lived, the choices I've made, and the priorities I've set. No wonder the Church teaches me to say over and over...
Don’t Let Doubt Win!
Christ is risen! Paul Tillich once said, “Doubt is not the opposite of faith; it is one element of faith.” Interesting! Too many times, moments of doubt are used by the enemy of your soul to cause you to give up or hide in shame. But doubt has never been fatal if it's...
Sunday’s Homily – Curiosity And Then Some
On this Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, we learn just what it takes to be rescued from a life stuck in the slavery of passions. And these three characteristics we learn today will not only set this woman free but a whole village. What is so amazing is the...
Plain Talk Got Their Attention!
Christ is risen! Ok, I admit it. As a public speaker, I have often used the outlandish statement as a rhetorical device to get or keep an audience's attention. It reminds me of one dear person who looked at me once and said "Father, I can't tell if you're serious...
Suffering From Self-Deception
Christ is risen! Soren Kierkegaard, that mournful Danish theologian, once said "There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true." For me, I find the most difficult deceptions to fight are the ones I tell to...
What Forms Your Actions And Attitude?
Christ is risen! I HATE clutter. It makes me miserable because it makes me feel like I'm out of control. And yet, I've known people who are actually calmed by clutter. It makes them feel "at home." So, when I'm communicating with these kinds of people, I have to remember...
Stubborn
Christ is risen! It was a dramatic moment in the courtroom. I was a witness for the prosecution since I had been the arresting officer in the case. But I was only one witness and the defendant was insisting he wasn't the one who was driving the car when the...
Misunderstood, As Usual!
Christ is risen! He was wondering why I was looking at him in such an intense way. He had just said something that I completely misunderstood, and, if he meant what I thought he meant, well, let's just say we may need to step outside! Once he realized I misunderstood him,...
Timing Is Everything!
Christ is risen! There's a great quote by Dan Millman "I learned that we can do anything, but we can't do everything... at least not at the same time. So think of your priorities, not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything!" I...